Anticipated deaths with physician care (mitori) at home in one town in Japan: A preliminary report

Abstract

Abstract Background There are few reports on the numbers of anticipated deaths (mitori [看取り]) at home in Japan. Method We used the Japanese death certificate system (shiboukohyou [死亡小票]) for Toyono town citizens who died between 2020 and 2022 and judged a death to constitute mitori when the certificate was not written by a doctor referred from the police. Results Among 756 deaths, 109 (14.4%) were mitori at home. Deaths at home were 144 and mitori at home accounted for 75.7%. Conclusion Shiboukohyou appear to provide numbers of mitori at home. Death certificate should include a space which shows mitori or not.

Keywords

• anticipated death (mitori [看取り])
• death at home
• home medical care
• Japanese death certificate system (shiboukohyou [死亡小票])
• unnatural death [異状死]